TYLER, Texas—The University of Texas at Tyler Baseball (5-2) battled the rain to come away with a 10-0 shutout victory over NCAA Division II opponent East Central University (2-14) Tuesday evening at Irwin Field.

TYLER, Texas—The University of Texas at Tyler Baseball (5-2) battled the rain to come away with a 10-0 shutout victory over NCAA Division II opponent East Central University (2-14) Tuesday evening at Irwin Field.
 
The Patriots wasted little time grabbing the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Senior outfielder Graham Welch (Plano, Texas) led off the inning with a triple to right field before sophomore outfielder Tanner Roach (Whitehouse, Texas) was walked to put runners on the corners. A sacrifice fly to right field by senior outfielder Josh Burns (Center, Texas) scored Welch while Roach stole two bases before being driven in by senior infielder Blake Wilson (Midlothian, Texas).
 
Both teams advanced a runner into scoring positon during the second inning, but neither team would to plate a run. After the final out of the second, the game went into a rain delay that would last 58 minutes with the Patriots leading, 2-0.
 
After play resumed in the top of the third inning, the Tigers managed to get runners on the corners before junior left-handed pitcher Max Page (Montgomery, Texas) struck out back-to-back batters looking to end the inning. He then made quick work of the East Central lineup in the top of the fourth, allowing the Patriots to add to their lead in the home half of the inning.
 
Senior catcher Zach Pavelock (Iola, Texas) singled to lead off the inning and reached third on a Tiger error. He came around to score on a Welch double to right field, his second hit of the game. The very next batter, Roach, plated Welch from second on a single up the middle to make it a 4-0 lead.
 
Page also pitched the fifth inning before handing the ball off to senior right-hander Turner Givens (Spring, Texas) who faced the minimum over his two innings of work. With Givens keeping the Tiger bats at bay, UT Tyler was able to plate six runs in the bottom of the seventh to end the game early.
 
Five of the six runs in the bottom of the seventh were scored with two outs. Freshman infielder Zachary Sanchez (San Antonio, Texas) was at first base with two outs and Pavelock at the plate. He was hit by a pitch before senior infielder Brady Usherwood (Mansfield, Texas) singled to score Sanchez from second. The next two batter, Welch and Roach doubled to push the Patriot lead to 8-0. Senior outfielder Josh Burns (Center, Texas) singled to score Roach and junior outfielder Kolton Forsythe (Oak Ridge, Texas) ended the game with a single to score the 10^th UT Tyler run of the ball game.
 
On the mound, freshman right-handed pitcher Kasey Williamson (Madisonville, Texas) picked up the win in his first collegiate start. He pitched the first two innings before the rain delay before Page entered the game. He pitched the middle three innings and struck out five Tiger batters while Givens punched out a pair on his two innings of work.
 
The Patriots will now head to Winter Haven, Florida where they will play five games against NCAA Division II opponents between Thursday and Saturday at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. Their first matchup is against Davenport University on Thursday at 5 p.m.